Part of the unit 2 coursework is too investigate a transactional website in detail and evaluate the key features of its design. Although it may sound obvious, to help clarify the project outline here is an official definition of what a transactional website actually is:
"A website which involves a biodirectional flow of data, typically to and from a database. Customers need to be able to not only look up information already on the site but, also add new information of their own"
Since I'm here I might as well practise my quoting skills we will need for the coursework - just in case for some outrageous reason the Exexcell examiners think I'm cheating =) - here you go.
MicrosoftTechNet (US) -Capacity Planning, the Internet transactional website.
http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/reskit/iisbook/c04_the_internet_transactional_web_site.mspx?mfr=true. Accessed October 2nd 2008
A commercial transactional website will therefore, in other words, closely interact and communicate with consumers to satisfy their wants by providing products/services via an ordering system. This is effectively online business designed to handle and process all of the consumer/firm transactions that would occur over the Internet. This holds a vast variety of advantages (and of course some disadvantages) for both consumers and the firm operating the website. These will be explained latter.
Thursday, October 2, 2008
B2B and B2C???
B2B- this means 'business to business' and refers to the transactions between two different companies, such as a retailer and its suppliers. Many of these are now conducted by extranets (private networks that connect more than one organisation).
B2C - this means 'business to consumer' which involves the transactions between conventional commercial websites and the individual customers. Luckily we will
mainly focus on these in unit 2, which will then form our coursework.
B2C - this means 'business to consumer' which involves the transactions between conventional commercial websites and the individual customers. Luckily we will
mainly focus on these in unit 2, which will then form our coursework.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
eBay
I visited eBay to find out a little more about this popular and extremely successful trading website. Here's what i found:
Major Purposes - to host trading transactions (locally/nationally and internationally) between public consumers all over the world. This involves the buying and selling of various goods other consumers may desire.
Target Audience - Anybody above 18 years old. Although products of all ages/genders/income are available to satisfy a large variety of markets.
How it works - All users have a registration which allows them to auction their own items or purchases others. Auctioning is usually carried out within a specific time frame, such as two days, and bids are made by other users on the price they are willing to pay (there is often a starting bid). The product will go to the highest bidder who will in turn be shipped the product to his/her destination. The buyer will have to cover the shipping costs, which may vary depending on the respective locations. These costs are transferred online, specified buy the seller e.g. through credit cards or checks.
This is the basic process and it quite trustworthy due to a pointing system where positive/negative comments can be made on purchases and therefore the service and reliability of sellers can be reviewed.
Benefits - A clear and simple buying/selling service with a huge network of members featuring a large selection of goods that will appeal to all markets of buyers. It holds a good navigation system with a search facility, favorites, viewed items and facilities like help/forums/reviews/charts etc. Being so established it is also very safe and trustworthy with detailed seller profiles and a positive feedback rating system.
Limitations - Some of the products lack detail and technical accuracy. There is also language limitations as while English is primarily used (being an American site) some products descriptions are in others and no translator is available. This could lead to communication errors.
Overall a very good site/e-business considering the amount of data necessary and complexity of the processes that must accurately be constantly carried out 24/7 in order to carer for its millions of worldwide users. This is what has made it such a successful shopping model.
Major Purposes - to host trading transactions (locally/nationally and internationally) between public consumers all over the world. This involves the buying and selling of various goods other consumers may desire.
Target Audience - Anybody above 18 years old. Although products of all ages/genders/income are available to satisfy a large variety of markets.
How it works - All users have a registration which allows them to auction their own items or purchases others. Auctioning is usually carried out within a specific time frame, such as two days, and bids are made by other users on the price they are willing to pay (there is often a starting bid). The product will go to the highest bidder who will in turn be shipped the product to his/her destination. The buyer will have to cover the shipping costs, which may vary depending on the respective locations. These costs are transferred online, specified buy the seller e.g. through credit cards or checks.
This is the basic process and it quite trustworthy due to a pointing system where positive/negative comments can be made on purchases and therefore the service and reliability of sellers can be reviewed.
Benefits - A clear and simple buying/selling service with a huge network of members featuring a large selection of goods that will appeal to all markets of buyers. It holds a good navigation system with a search facility, favorites, viewed items and facilities like help/forums/reviews/charts etc. Being so established it is also very safe and trustworthy with detailed seller profiles and a positive feedback rating system.
Limitations - Some of the products lack detail and technical accuracy. There is also language limitations as while English is primarily used (being an American site) some products descriptions are in others and no translator is available. This could lead to communication errors.
Overall a very good site/e-business considering the amount of data necessary and complexity of the processes that must accurately be constantly carried out 24/7 in order to carer for its millions of worldwide users. This is what has made it such a successful shopping model.
Monday, September 29, 2008
Online Services
Basically here are some of the main services you can get online, which can be classified into separate groups. Note that within each service many variations will still exist (eg. Hotmail, Yahoo and G-mail are all email services. This is a clear representation of the broad masses of information available to Internet users today. Enjoy...
Communication - e-mail, instant messaging, web cam, social networking, newspapers, online conferencing, blogs, discussion boards, help desks.
Real-time information - timetables, news services, traffic reports, weather beuros (public information systems), maps/satellite.
Commerce - online shopping, banking, auctions, advertising, booking services.
Government - online tax services, e-voting, applications for services/grants, public information (laws/locations), revenue collection, discussion board.
Education - Virtual learning environments, online training, course information/past papers, currency/file/language converters, e-books.
Business - videoconferencing, collaborative working, business networks, e-commerce.
Entertainment - multi-user games, radio players, video/music sharing, instant chat.
Download services - music, video, files, photos upgrades, software.
Communication - e-mail, instant messaging, web cam, social networking, newspapers, online conferencing, blogs, discussion boards, help desks.
Real-time information - timetables, news services, traffic reports, weather beuros (public information systems), maps/satellite.
Commerce - online shopping, banking, auctions, advertising, booking services.
Government - online tax services, e-voting, applications for services/grants, public information (laws/locations), revenue collection, discussion board.
Education - Virtual learning environments, online training, course information/past papers, currency/file/language converters, e-books.
Business - videoconferencing, collaborative working, business networks, e-commerce.
Entertainment - multi-user games, radio players, video/music sharing, instant chat.
Download services - music, video, files, photos upgrades, software.
Sunday, September 21, 2008
E-books - What they should all have.
Lately we have been researching e-books on the Internet in preparation for our unit 1 coursework (where we will need to create our own). I will not post all my specific findings here in detail, yet here are some of the main strengths I found in the various e-books. Note that when I create my own I will aim to emphasize and include all these strengths and minimise any weaknesses.
Strengths - What the ideal E-book will have....
Strengths - What the ideal E-book will have....
- Use of color to add to interest
- All the necessary links clearly available (e.g. home, back, help)
- Small scroll bar or full page view (saves constant scrolling)
- Organised paragraphs
- Pictures for clarity and interest
- Fast downloading time
- Ability to be viewed on all software/hardware
- Use of different and varied media when appropriate (e.g. animation, photos, audio files)
- Should have the option of printing, email, downloading and copying.
- Format settings (e.g. language selection, font size, zoom)
13th ICT lesson....
Well, 3 weeks into the first term of school and out of my 4 A-levels I have had 13 Applied ICT lessons so far. First impressions?....well the outline of the course looks interesting. We will create an e-book for unit 1, a online database for unit 2 and have a 12 hour exam for unit 3.
However, so far creating this blog has been the most interesting element. Unit 2 is like a really boring year 10 Business Studies lesson and involves nothing I don't already know. Unit 1 with Mrs. Shikora is similarly tedious as we analyse e-books in preparation to make our own. Now I don't mind preparing a bit, but it really needs to get more interesting pretty fast before all my interest fades.
I have always liked making and creating things in ICT, so I'm eager to start. We are doing Applied ICT right?.....so lets start applying! I am sure I speak on behalf of the class when I say "No more theory". Please Edexcel send out the coursework!
However, so far creating this blog has been the most interesting element. Unit 2 is like a really boring year 10 Business Studies lesson and involves nothing I don't already know. Unit 1 with Mrs. Shikora is similarly tedious as we analyse e-books in preparation to make our own. Now I don't mind preparing a bit, but it really needs to get more interesting pretty fast before all my interest fades.
I have always liked making and creating things in ICT, so I'm eager to start. We are doing Applied ICT right?.....so lets start applying! I am sure I speak on behalf of the class when I say "No more theory". Please Edexcel send out the coursework!
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